On target: Are there enough balls to go around in Cincinnati?

Entering Week 1, there are several situations to pay close attention to with regards to targets. The top two being the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.

Cincinnati Bengals

Much like their AFC North counterpart, the Bengals upgraded the targets for quarterback Carson Palmer, and he has a lot of new weapons: wide receivers Terrell Owens and Jordan Shipley as well as tight end Jermaine Gresham. They join Chad Ochocinco and Andre Caldwell in the Bengals' incredibly deep stable of options to attack secondaries.

Last year, Ochocinco blew away the team's other receivers with 130 targets -- the next closest was 77 -- but now Batman and Robin are together with TO, who was targeted 102 times in Buffalo, in the picture. We know Owens will ask for the ball ... and often. Caldwell (77 targets) and Shipley figure to be involved in multiple-receiver sets, and are no slouches, either.

Then there is Gresham; a big, talented rookie the team made it a point to throw to during the preseason. Fourteen tight ends saw more targets individually than the Bengals attempted (70) to the entire position last year. Will Gresham's presence change that? Traditionally, offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski hasn't used the position.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens revamped their receiving corps during the offseason, re-signing Derrick Mason, while adding Anquan Boldin, Donte' Stallworth and most recently T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Stallworth (foot) is out until October, and Housh is still learning the offense, but how much offensive coordinator Cam Cameron loosens the leash on third-year quarterback Joe Flacco will be crucial.

Last year the team's receivers were targeted 277 times, with Mason leading the way with 134 targets. The next closest receiver saw 78 looks. The team's tight ends, dominated by Todd Heap, were targeted 78 times. Now Boldin, who saw 124 targets in Arizona last year, and Houshmandzadeh, who was targeted 135 times in Seattle, are in the fold; they will be hungry to see their looks, too.

Will there be enough looks to go around? Will the upgrade at receiver come at the expense of Heap's targets and those that go to running back Ray Rice, who had 81 targets a year ago? Stay tuned.

Now that you're thinking targets entering Week 1, check back next week as KFFL.com's On Target will be breaking down the key target and utilization statistics for you all season long.

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